Viburnum plant named ‘NCVX3’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Viburnum plant named ‘NCVX3’ is disclosed, characterized by a unique compact, prostrate habit and glossy, dark evergreen leaves. The new variety is a Viburnum, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Viburnum davidii x propinquum.

Variety denomination: ‘NCVX3’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Viburnum cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Mills River, N.C. The cross resulting inthis new variety was made during Summer of 2010. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new plant forms of Viburnum forcommercial horticultural purposes.

The seed parent of ‘NCVX3’ is the unpatented, proprietary seedlingreferred to as ‘NCSU 2007-187’. The pollen parent is the unpatented,proprietary seedling referred to as ‘NCSU 2007-080’. The new variety wasidentified as a potentially interesting selection in the July of 2012,at a research greenhouse in Mills River, N.C.

The first asexual propagation of ‘NCVX3’ was carried out in July of 2012by rooting stem cuttings at the same research greenhouse in Mills River,N.C. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly. ‘NCVX3’ has beenfound to retain its distinctive characteristics through successiveasexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘NCVX3’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘NCVX3’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘NCVX3’ as a new and distinct Viburnum cultivar:

-   -   1. A compact, prostrate habit.    -   2. Glossy, dark evergreen leaves.    -   3. Abundant white flowers in spring.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NCVX3’ are similar to plants of the seedparent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar ‘NCVX3’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has lighter green foliage.    -   2. The new variety has smaller flowers than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NCVX3’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar ‘NCVX3’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Plants of ‘NCVX3’ are more compact than plants of the pollen        parent.    -   2. Flowers of the new variety are larger and showier than the        flowers of the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NCVX3’ can be compared to the commercialvariety Viburnum ‘Jermyns Globe’, unpatented. These varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘NCVX3’ differsin the following:

-   -   1. The new variety produces lighter green foliage, this        comparator produces darker green foliage with a blue tinge.    -   2. Flower buds of ‘NCVX3’ are white, flower buds of this        comparator are pink.

‘NCVX3’ can also be compared to ‘NCVX2’, U.S. Plant patent applicationSer. No. 16/903,184. ‘NCVX3’ is smaller in size (height: 50 to 70 cm;width: 90 to 120 cm), with a more prostrate habit, smaller leaves(length 2.2 to 6 cm; width: 1 to 2.5 cm), and a larger inflorescencediameter (5 to 10 cm.). Compared to ‘NCVX3’, ‘NCVX2’ is larger in size(height: 80 to 120 cm; width: 100 to 120 cm), with a globose habit,larger leaves (length 4 to 9 cm; width: 1.5 to 3.7 cm), and a smallerinflorescence diameter (4 to 5 cm).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new smooth-leaf Viburnum (Viburnum davidii x propinquum) isillustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's form,foliage and inflorescences. The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Viburnum cultivar. Age of the plant is about 2 years.

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing white inflorescences and dark greenfoliage of ‘NCVX3’ taken in Grand Haven, Mich. in May 2019.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the habit of a field-grown plant of‘NCVX3’ taken in Jackson Springs N.C. in September 2019.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the dark green lustrous foliage of ‘NCVX3’taken in Jackson Springs N.C. in September 2019.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristicsof the new and distinct smooth Viburnum (Viburnum davidii x propinquum)known by the denomination ‘NCVX3’. The detailed description was taken ona 3-year-old field-grown plant in Jackson Springs, N.C. in 2019. Allcolors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.), London, 2001 Edition).Where pertinent, descriptive data was supplemented with informationprovided from cooperators in Grand Haven, Mich. where data was taken on3-year-old container plants as well as plants in a landscape setting.Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics aregiven, it is to be understood that such characteristics areapproximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable.

-   Botanical classification: Viburnum davidii x propinquum ‘NCVX3’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typical method: Softwood cuttings.-   Time to initiate rooting: 28 days at approximately 27° C.-   Time to produce a rooted young plant: About 3 months at    approximately 27° C.-   Root description: Dense, free branching roots of moderate thickness.    Colored yellow-white, not accurately measured with an R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Perennial evergreen flowering shrub.-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Densely branched, prostrate.        -   Height.—50 to 70 cm.        -   Width.—90 to 120 cm.-   Shoot and stem:    -   -   Lateral branch length.—Avg. 24 cm (18 to 30 cm).        -   Lateral branch diameter.—Avg. 0.4 cm (0.2 to 0.5 cm).        -   Internode length.—Avg. 4.5 cm (1 to 7 cm).        -   Immature shoot texture (current year).—Glabrous.        -   Immature shoot color (current year).—Greyed-Purple (187A).        -   Mature stem texture (from prior year).—Glabrous, with            lenticels and fissures.        -   Mature stem color (from prior year).—Brown (200C).-   Plant vigor: Moderate.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:-   Type: Simple.    -   -   Persistence.—Evergreen.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color.—Upper: Red-Purple (59A). Lower: Greyed-Purple            (184C).        -   Margins.—Entire or obscurely denticulate.        -   Emerging leaves.—Color: Upper: Greyed-Purple (183A). Lower:            Green (138B). Texture: Glabrous.        -   Mature leaves during growing season.—Color: Upper: Green            (NN137A). Lower: Yellow-Green (147B). Texture: Coriaceous            and glabrous. Length of lamina: Avg. 4 cm (2.2 to 6 cm).            Width: Avg. 2 cm (1 to 2.5 cm).        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole.—Length: Avg. 0.8 cm (0.6 to 1 cm). Diameter: 0.1 cm            Color: Purple (N77A). Texture: Glabrous.-   Flower:    -   -   Description.—Single flowers arranged on terminal cymes.        -   Flower longevity.—About 1 week.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—50 to 250.        -   Flowering season.—Mid-April to early May in Mills River,            N.C.        -   Fragrance.—Slight fragrance.        -   Inflorescence.—Diameter: Average 8 cm (5 to 10 cm). Height:            Average 4 cm (2 to 6.5 cm).        -   Flower.—Diameter: 0.5 cm. Height: 0.4 cm.        -   Bud.—Shape: Round. Length: About 0.2 cm. Diameter: About            0.2 cm. Color: White (155B).        -   Petals.—Number: 5 fused, reflexed petals. Arrangement:            Whorled. Length: 0.2 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Shape: Oblong.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Texture: Glabrous. Color:            White (155D).        -   Sepal.—Number: 5. Arrangement: Whorled. Length: Less than            0.1 cm. Width: Less than 0.1 cm. Shape: Fused. Margin:            Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Texture: Glabrous. Color:            Green (143C).        -   Peduncle.—Length: Average 4.5 cm (3 to 6 cm). Diameter:            About 0.2 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Yellow-Green (144C).        -   Pedicels.—Length: Average 0.4 cm (0.1 to 0.6). Diameter:            Less than 0.1 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Yellow-Green            (144B).

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Gynoecium:    -   -   Pistil number.—1.        -   Pistil length.—Less than 0.1 cm.        -   Stigma shape.—Rounded.        -   Stigma color.—Yellow-Green (144D).        -   Style length.—Less than 0.1 cm.        -   Style color.—Yellow-Green (144D).-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamen number.—5.        -   Anther shape.—Oblong.        -   Anther size.—Less than 0.1 cm.        -   Anther color.—Brown (200A).        -   Amount of pollen.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—White (155B).

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruit and seed: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: No significant resistance nor    susceptibility to disease or insect pests has been observed.-   Cold hardiness: At least USDA zone 7a; testing has not been    completed in colder zones.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Viburnum plantnamed ‘NCVX3’ as herein illustrated and described.